Rotary container top with needle remover slot

ABSTRACT

A needle removal closure for a disposable container having a circular opening defined by a circular rim comprises a circular closure rotatably mounted on the rim within the circular opening, a ratchet device constraining the closure to rotate in a single direction, and a needle removal slot in the circular closure offset from the rotary axis thereof and oriented in a direction for gripping a needle hub inserted therein and moved in the direction of rotation of the circular closure for unthreading of a needle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to disposable sharps containers andpertains particularly to an improved rotary top and needle remover slotfor disposable sharps containers.

Disposable containers have been developed in recent years which providea reasonably high degree of security for disposable articles, such asneedles and surgical blades known as sharps, and other similar articlesand materials, to keep them out of the hands of unauthorized persons andto keep them from being reused. These containers are designed withrestricted access openings and closures to prevent the removal ofmaterials from the container under ordinary circumstances.

One such container of the aforementioned type is that of our prior U.S.Pat. No. 4,502,606, issued Mar. 5, 1985, and directed to a lockingclosure for disposable containers. These containers are also providedwith needle removal tools in the form of one or more slots which act asa wrench for removal of the needles from syringes and the like. Theseneedle removal tools are not only convenient, but also provide a safemeans for removal of the needle. The safe removal of the needle isessential to protect hospital personnel from certain highly contagiousdiseases.

Many prior disposable containers have had needle removal tools builtinto the top thereof adjacent the disposal opening. This is a convenientand desirable arrangement. However, these are in need of improvement.

In my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,821 entitled "SWIVEL TOP CLOSURE FORPHLEBOTOMY CONTAINER", I disclose a rotary container top with a slot forquick removal of a syringe needle. The needle engaging slot in thatpatent is positioned offset from the rotary axis of the top so that whenthe needle is engaged by the slot and the top rotated, the needle isunscrewed from the syringe body. The syringe body is then moved in thereverse direction to disengage the needle from the wrench portion of theslot, and engages a hooking portion to disengage the needle from thesyringe barrel. However, the container top sometimes rotates in theopposite direction and frustrates attempts to dislodge the needle fromthe slot and/or the barrel.

Improvements have been made in needle removal slots, such as covered inmy U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,686, issued in Jan. 15, 1991, for more securelyfitting variations in needle hub sizes. These new slots are tapered sothat the needle hub is wedged therein and gripped more tightly than inmost prior art slots. Thus, the top is even more likely to rotate in theopposite direction and make the needle more difficult to dislodgewithout holding the container top.

It is, therefore, desirable that a disposable container with improvedrotatable closure and needle removal slots be available.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improvedsharps container having an improved closure and needle removal slot.

In accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, a needleremoval device comprises a rotatable closure having a needle engagingslot offset from the rotary axis for engagement with the needle hub forunthreading the needle as the closure is rotated in one direction, withmeans for preventing rotation in the opposite direction.

In accordance with another aspect, the needle slot is a converging slotwith spacer means for precisely positioning the needle hub within theslot, and with flange hook for engaging the needle flange for applyingan axial force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view in section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2with a syringe shown in position to show the cooperative relationship;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the top looking up from insidethe container, section view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 2 showing a syringeadded in a first position;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5 showing a second position of the syringeassembly;

FIG. 7 is a detailed section view taken showing a first position of ananti-rotation device; and

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 showing a second position of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a closure in accordance with theinvention is shown installed in the opening of a disposable container,the entire assembly being designated generally by the numeral 10. Theclosure 12 comprises a flat circular disc that is designed to rotatablymount in a circular opening in a container. The closure is shownrotatably mounted in an opening of a container 14. The container may bedisposable or reusable as will be further described.

The closure 12, as previously stated, comprises a flat circular discdefined by a circular peripheral edge 16, and having an upperoverlapping radially extending flange 18 extending outward beyond theperipheral edge 16. The flange 18 is preferably formed on the top sideof the closure for overlapping and engaging the upper surface of thewall area around and forming a circular opening in a container. Aplurality of tabs 20 extend outward from the inside surface of theclosure disc, overlapping and extending outward beyond the peripheraledge 16 for overlapping the inside surface of a wall surrounding acircular opening in a container. The construction of the closure is suchthat it is free to rotate with slight resistance within the openingwithin which it is mounted. The closure 12 is constructed to rotate inone direction only about the central axis thereof.

The closure is constructed to be mounted in any container. However, theclosure is illustrated in conjunction with, and is particularly suitablefor disposal of phlebotomy syringes. The container 14 is of a generallysquare box-like configuration having a generally flat square bottom 22,with a first pair of opposite side walls 24 and 26 extending upwardtherefrom, and having recesses 28 and 30 therein for the purpose ofmounting in a suitable bracket. The opposite sides 32 and 34 aregenerally flat square panels. The top of the container converges to acircular top, with the arrangement shown with a circular neck or lip 36for receiving a circular closure rim 38. The closure rim 38 has amounting flange 40 for engaging and locking to lip 36, and having aninwardly directed wall 42 in which is formed a circular opening 44within which the closure 12 is mounted. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4,the flange 18 overlaps the wall 42 on the top side, and the tabs 20 and21 overlap the wall 42 on the inside, thus retaining the closure 12 inposition in the opening of the container for rotation therein.

The rotating disc closure member 12 is constructed in conjunction withthe circular mounting rim 38 to rotate in one direction (needleunthreading) only. This is accomplished by means of a ratchet and pawllike mechanism as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8. A series of ramp likeratchet teeth are formed around the opening 44 on the inside of closurerim 38. The tab 21 is constructed to act as a pawl and ride over theratchet teeth 46 in one direction (FIG. 7). However, in the oppositedirection, an edge 21a engages an edge of the teeth 46 and restrains orprevents rotation of the disc 12 in the opposite direction.

A needle wrench in the form of a closed end tapered slot or aperture 48is formed in the closure member 12, spaced from the central or rotaryaxis thereof for defining a crank arm as will be explained. The needlewrench comprises a slot having a wide end portion and converging sidewalls 50 and 52. The converging sides define a variable span wrench forengaging and coupling the flute portion of a hub of a needle. Theenlarged portion of the slot is sufficiently wide to define an openingto enable a standard needle with its flange to fall therethrough. Theslot is mounted within a cavity formed by side walls 53 that terminatein an upper spacer surface or edge 55. The spacer surface is positionedabove the slot so that when an end 57 of a barrel engages it, the flutes60 of the needle will be precisely positioned to engage the slot walls50 and 52. The user will not have to hunt and feel for the slot.

The wrench end of the slot is designed to engage the hub of the needlefor applying a rotatable torque thereto for unscrewing the needle fromthe barrel. The needle engaging portion of the slot can have anysuitable configuration for coupling to a needle hub. However, theconverging slot as disclosed herein is preferred. The slot as disclosedand described herein is an improvement over the slot disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,686, issued Jan. 15, 1992. Anextraction lip or rim 54 in the opposite end of the wrench assembly isformed by a C-shaped portion of the disc that is less in thickness thanthe disc. This C-shaped rim is designed to serve as a hook or puller forhooking the flange underneath thereof, as shown in FIG. 6, for applyingaxial force to the needle, if needed, for pulling it from the threadedbore of a barrel. The C-shaped rim 54 is positioned above the top ofslot 50, 52 an amount slightly greater than the thickness of the needleflange, so that the flange slips beneath it when moved to that end ofthe slot. The rim 54 is positioned relative to positioning surface 55,so that the needle rim is positioned beneath it.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, there is illustrated a syringe barrel 56having a needle 58 mounted therein. The needle, as can be best seen inFIGS. 3, 5 and 6, includes a fluted hub 60 with a disc-like radialflange 62 separating the hub from a threaded portion 64. The threadedportion 64 is designed to engage and fit internal threads in a bore onthe end of the barrel 56 for holding or securing the needle in place.The hub 60 is engaged by tools, such as a wrench slot, for removing theneedle from the barrel.

When it is desired to remove the needle, the barrel is grasped in thehand and the needle extending into the wrench slot, so that an end 57 ofthe barrel engages spacer rim 55 and positions flutes 60 of the hub sothat the wrench portion of the slot (side walls 50 and 52) engages thehub 60, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Rotation of the closure in aclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2, utilizing the barrel 56 as acrank handle applies a counterclockwise rotation to the needle relativeto the barrel. As shown in FIG. 5, continued rotation of the closurearound its axis results in the needle becoming unscrewed from thebarrel, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the needle is completely unscrewed, the barrel is slipped towardthe wide portion of the slot, such that the flange 62 of the needlepasses beneath rim 54 can pass down through the slot into the barrel orcontainer. Should for some reason the needle be still frictionally heldto the barrel, the threaded portion of the needle is slipped into theslot portion 54 such that the flange 62 is below the rim surface, asshown in FIG. 6. The barrel 56 is then lifted for gripping or hookingthe flange 62 of the needle so that the barrel can be pulled from theneedle, letting the needle fall into the bottom of the container.

An additional opening 66, which may be a somewhat square opening, asshown in FIG. 3, may be formed in the closure disc 12 for receivingother disposable items, such as barrels and the like. A pivoting closuretab 68 is pivotally mounted by a hinge in the closure for pivoting toselected positions over the opening 66, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, forclosing the opening or movable to positions to either side of theopening to provide access thereto. A pair of detent member 70 may beformed by the edge of the closure 68 for holding the closure in closedposition. Flutes or ridges 72 may be formed on the top of the closure 68for enabling ease of gripping and application of a force thereto forpivoting the closure to its open position.

The closure is designed to be flat, as illustrated, such that it can beused in conjunction with locking closures, such as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,502,606, granted Mar. 5, 1985, of which I am a co-inventor.These closures include a second cap or permanent closure 66, which whenthe container is full and ready to be disposed of, can be locked inplace over the closure such that access to the interior of the containeris prevented.

The illustrated container is designed to be mounted in a holder forholding it in position, such that the above described operation ofremoving a needle can be carried out by one hand. To this end, amounting bracket is illustrated in FIG. 4 of my prior U.S. Pat. No.4,667,821, which comprises a base member designed to be attached to atable top or other suitable support surface. A pair of spring clipfingers extend upward and include inwardly directed gripping tips forextending into the recesses 28 and 30 of the container. Thus, the holderis designed to grip the container and hold it against rotation to permitrotation of the closure without having to hold the container.

While I have illustrated and described my invention by means of specificembodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A needle removal closure assembly for a disposable containercomprising:a disposable container having a circular opening defined by acircular rim; a circular closure rotatably mounted on said circular rimwithin said circular opening; means constraining said closure to rotatein a single direction of rotation; and needle removal slot means in saidcircular closure offset from the rotary axis thereof and oriented in adirection for gripping a needle hub inserted therein and moved in saiddirection of rotation of said circular closure for unthreading of aneedle.
 2. A closure assembly according to claim 1 wherein said needleremoval slot means comprises an elongated converging slot defined byopposed walls converging in said direction of rotation.
 3. A closureassembly according to claim 1 wherein said needle removal slot means ismounted in a recess in said closure, said recess formed by upstandingwalls defining positioning means for engaging a barrel of a syringe forpositioning a needle hub in said slot.
 4. A closure assembly accordingto claim 1 wherein:said closure has a circular disc configurationdefined by a peripheral edge; a circular flange extending radiallyoutward beyond said peripheral edge on one side of said disc; and aplurality of tabs extending beyond said peripheral edge on the otherside of said disc, said flange and said tabs for engaging opposite sidesof said annular portion for rotatably mounting said disc in said centralopening in said container.
 5. A closure assembly according to claim 1wherein said means constraining said closure to rotate in a singledirection of rotation comprises ratchet means acting between saidcircular closure and said circular frame.
 6. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 5 wherein said ratchet means comprises a tab on aninside of said closure and a plurality of ratchet teeth on said circularrim.
 7. A closure assembly according to claim 6 wherein said needleremoval slot means comprises an elongated converging slot converging insaid direction of rotation, and having an enlarged end with an overlyingsemicircular lip for overlying a needle hub for applying a forcethereto.
 8. A closure assembly according to claim 7 wherein said slot ispartially surrounded by a vertically spaced rim for engaging an end of asyringe barrel for positioning a hub of a needle in said slot.
 9. Aclosure assembly according to claim 8 wherein said means constrainingsaid closure to rotate in a single direction of rotation comprisesratchet teeth on said circular frame, and a tab on an inside of saidclosure for engagement with said ratchet teeth.
 10. A rotatable needleremoval closure assembly comprising in combination:a container having acircular edge portion defining a circular central opening; a discrotatably mounted on said edge portion within said central opening;means confining said disc to a single direction of rotation; and needlecoupling means on said disc offset from the rotary axis thereof forcoupling a needle thereto for rotation of said needle therewith forunthreading said needle from a holder upon said rotation of said disc insaid direction of rotation.
 11. A closure assembly according to claim 10wherein:said rotatable disc is defined by a peripheral edge; a circularflange extending radially outward beyond said peripheral edge on oneside of said disc; and a plurality of tabs extending beyond saidperipheral edge on the other side of said disc, said flange and saidtabs for engaging opposite sides of said annular portion for rotatablymounting said disc in said central opening in said container.
 12. Aclosure assembly according to claim 11 wherein said means constrainingsaid closure to rotate in a single direction of rotation comprisesratchet teeth on said circular frame, and a tab on an inside of saidclosure for engagement with said ratchet teeth.
 13. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 11 wherein said needle removal slot means comprisesan elongated converging slot converging in said direction of rotation,and having an enlarged end with an overlying semicircular lip foroverlying a needle hub for applying a force thereto.
 14. A closureassembly according to claim 13 wherein said slot is partially surroundedby a vertically spaced rim for engaging an end of a syringe barrel forpositioning a hub of a needle in said slot.
 15. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 10 wherein said needle removal slot means comprisesan elongated converging slot converging in said direction of rotation,and having an enlarged end with an overlying semicircular lip foroverlying a needle hub for applying a force thereto.
 16. A closureassembly according to claim 15 wherein said slot is partially surroundedby a vertically spaced rim for engaging an end of a syringe barrel forpositioning a hub of a needle in said slot.
 17. A closure assemblyhaving a needle removal slot, comprising in combination:a containerhaving a circular edge portion defining a circular open end; a closureincluding an annular portion having a central opening fixed on saidcontainer upper edge portion; and a needle removal slot in said closureoffset from a central axis thereof for receiving and engaging a needlehub for threadably removing said needle from a holder upon rotation ofsaid holder, said slot means comprises an elongated converging slotconverging from an enlarged end to a narrow end, said enlarged endhaving an overlying semicircular lip for overlying a needle hub forapplying a force thereto, said slot is partially surrounded by avertically spaced rim for engaging an end of a syringe barrel forpositioning a hub of a needle in said slot.
 18. A closure assemblyaccording to claim 17 wherein:said closure includes a disc rotatablymounted on said edge portion within said central opening; meansconfining said disc to a single direction of rotation; said rotatabledisc is defined by a peripheral edge; a circular flange extendingradially outward beyond said peripheral edge on one side of said disc;and a plurality of tabs extending beyond said peripheral edge on theother side of said disc, said flange and said tabs for engaging oppositesides of said annular portion for rotatably mounting said disc in saidcentral opening in said container.
 19. A closure assembly according toclaim 18 wherein said means constraining said closure to rotate in asingle direction of rotation comprises ratchet teeth on said circularedge portion, and a tab on an inside of said closure for engagement withsaid ratchet teeth.
 20. A closure assembly according to claim 18 whereinsaid needle removal slot means comprises an elongated converging slotconverging in said direction of rotation, and having an enlarged endwith an overlying semicircular lip for overlying a needle hub forapplying a force thereto.